More trending

Magic happens when you look for their glimmer
Death is succumbing to what feels like fate
Hope is rest
Worry is struggle
If you're lazy (like me) it's easier to hope :-)

Celebrating mystery

To celebrate the mystery of transcendence. Once you hear how well the music fits the words, nothing else sounds right. For who can understand the truth behind them?

Poulenc Gloria : Domine Deus

Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens. 
Dómine Fili unigénite, Jesu Christe. 
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris. 

Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. 
Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. 
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. 

Kafka's vile insect

I remembered "Der Verwandlung" by Franz Kafka usually called "The Metamorphosis" but I think the better translation is "A change for the worse". Many people think the insect Gregor morphs into was a cockroach. But Kafka never names the insect except it was vile and died at the end to the relief of even his family.

I hated the story and never looked at it except for course work. It made me feel sick.

Somehow I remembered the story this morning while climbing up to Robinson Road. I thought about how after my incarceration, illness and other mishaps of the past few years got me used to survival mode. To make the best of what felt like calamity sometimes, I learned to scurry under the floor boards to avoid danger and confrontation. I guess like a cockroach...

Dreams, passion and romance were all but forgotten for myself and existed only in movies or books. Somehow, during my long 6 month wait for my foot to recover, I changed back to someone stronger, more motivated, sensitive and with a new vision of friendship and work: "Meine Verbesserung." My improvement back to hope and humanity.

Synchronicity

When there is common meaning not due to reason or causality...  but just knowing we share a vision or purpose inspite of background or  circumstance: a simple answer not requiring an explanation. According to Einstein, this is when your hear God think.

I'm experiencing synchronicity like never before. 

Expectans expectavi Dominum

The title is Latin. Stravinsky's symphony of Psalms' second movement's first line is "I waited patiently for the Lord". 

This is a mystery because if God is there why must we wait? Yet that is the theme of the Bible. Jews wait for the Messiah. Christians wait for Jesus to return. Everyday, no matter what you believe, we wait for someone or something. Why does God who is there seem silent in that he appears not to speak like you or I?

A new perspective came to me from a scene in the movie RED. John Malkovich told Bruce Willis that Mary Louis Parker's character likes him. Why? "Notice how she sticks around? If a woman likes you she sticks around!" Bruce then argued that she did not have a choice. The answer: "Sure she does!"

If you love someone, you trust and you stick around. If you listen to the mysterious sound of my favorite symphony and I think you'll agree it fits the lyrics. 

Seeing and hearing God occurs as we love, trust and wait... Not a cause and effect but they happen all at the same time.

I've heard many preach about love but less so the waiting...

Expectans expectavi Dominum, et intendit mihi.	I waited patiently for the Lord: and He inclined unto me, and heard my calling.
Et exaudivit preces meas; et exudit me da lacu miseriae, et de lato faecis.	He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay:
Et statuit super petram pedes meos: et direxis gressus meos.	and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.
Et immisit in os meum canticum novrum, carmen Deo nostro.	And He hath put a new song in my mouth: even a thanksgiving unto our God.
Videbunt multi, videbunt et timabunt: et aperabunt in Domino.	Many shall see it and fear: and shall put their trust in the Lord.

Trending providence

Belief in God is a choice. No matter which side you take, it is faith that decides. I was attracted to Physics because even though it is a hard subject, there was a more objective judgement of answers. I get a sense of awe when I see what can be understood and the untapped potential of what we have yet to know. That the universe has so many hidden treasures.

As I emerge from my long personal drought, I have seen that providence exists in life. Otherwise how do I know light when I'm experiencing darkness, that someone loves me when I feel alone, that hope exists when I feel completely down trodden?

Like principles in Science I will attempt to trend according to providence:

Someone not something is important

Despite appearances, those who trust you love you

Invest in people and not things or systems

Hope exists in the moments of trust and rest

Value lies in people
Benevolence is a decision (both to give and to get)

Bad feelings do not negate any of the above

Ignoring turkeys

I think there is a 70's fad of calling annoying people turkeys and I remember a poster : "Don't let the turkeys get you down". It's amazing how often I let that happen.

About to face the once distant celebration of my own golden jubilee, I am finally seeing who the turkeys are and how my patient tolerance has been wasted on those who couldn't care less. While there is no formula about how to deal with daily annoyance, it seems the poster slogan is not that off center. Maybe it hits the turkeys right where it hurts, by ignoring them.

Extreme thanks

I've mentioned that some unfortunate events have fogged up my view for a long time. Even though they have all been resolved, sometimes a dark cloud still seems to hang over me bringing panic and dread during perfectly sunny moments. Today while I took my morning ascent among scarce Hong Kong greenery, I thanked God and those who seemed to have brought on the drama by name ... one by one.

Seems the "curse" was chased away by a simple "thank you" ... even for those who acted like enemies. It only took a minute.